N82million dinner: Soyinka to refund money if…–Rivers Govt

Rivers State Information Commissioner, Dr Austin Tam-George has declared that the state government will demand a refund of the N82million expended by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Professor Wole Soyinka’s dinner, if it confirms that the Nobel Laureate received part of the the funds in cash.
Also, Dr Tam-George declared that the point of disaffection between former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Wike was the insistence of Governor Wike that Amaechi should observe probity, prudence and accountability in all governmental actions, an advice that was thrown overboard by the former governor.
Addressing Rivers people via a radio programme yesterday in Port Harcourt, Dr Tam-George regretted that the Amaechi administration, using the Ministry of Information and Communications headed by Ibim Semenitari, amassed N1.1billion debt on frivolous expenditures.
According to Dr Tam-George: “I will seek the permission of the Governor to formally write Professor Wole Soyinka, a known supporter of Amaechi, if he received part of the N82million spent on a 3-hour dinner hosted in his honour by the Amaechi administration.
“If he agrees that he received such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State. At present, we have presented all the details to the Police for investigation and prosecution. We shall also take up this matter as a financial crime against the people of Rivers State,” he said.
He explained that all the alleged fraudulent actions of the Amaechi administration were being addressed by the Wike administration, pointing out that it will take time for the legal process to be completed because they were financial crimes.
The Information Commissioner said that former Governor Amaechi betrayed the trust of Rivers people by embarking on irresponsible expenses, which led to the mismanagement and fraudulent use of N3trillion that accrued to the state under his watch.
He said that Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had to leave the Amaechi administration when the former governor refused to adhere to patriotic advice to use Rivers state resources to develop the state.
“The point of departure between former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was Wike’s commitment to probity, prudence and accountability. Governor Wike refused to be part of the financial mismanagement of resources that accrued to the state “, Dr Tam-George told the people of Rivers State.
He further explained that, already, Rivers people were witnessing proper use of resources even as they are positive transformations across the landscape.